Local Self Government of India 1. Introduction: Democracy is all about meaningful participation and accountability. A stronger and vibrant local government ensures both active participation and purposeful accountability. Local government is a government of the local people, by the local people and for the local people, to see the problems and give solutions to the problems of common people. It is the government that works at lowest level and closest to the common people to resolve the problems of ordinary citizens. The local govt of India is the union govt created by the constitution of India legislative, executive and judiciary authority of Union of 29 states and 7 union territories of a constitutionally democratic republic, which is in New Delhi (Capital of India). There are total 6,45,000 LGs in India, in rural (village) regions it is termed as the Panchayat while in urban (city) areas it is referred as the Nagar Panchayats (Municipalities). [1] 2. Historical Background of Local Governments in India: The grass roots of Local Governments (LG) in India lead to 1687, when for the first time Municipal corporation was formed in Madras under a charter Act passed by James II, the British Monarch at that time. The corporation was based on one Mayor, 12 Alderman and 60 Burgesses. The main purpose of the Municipal was to collect levy and taxes from the public. Later in 1863, the growth in Municipal administration occurred when the unhealthy situation of towns was noticed, and the gov. of India passed several Municipal acts. In 1882, Lord Ripon introduced Local Self Government, which was based on elected members and for the first-time district councils were introduced. Later in 1907, the Ripon’s Local system was been reshaped in The Royal Commission on Decentralization- 1907. In 1920 the Local Government act of 1919 was made introduced, followed by the promise that was made by the British government during the World War I to empower the public. Diarchal system of government was introduced in the beginning. Priority was given to the rural governments by providing them funds for reconstructions and establishing Panchayat at rural level. The overall performance of local self-government till 1935 was not up to the mark, it was a mixture of success’ and failures. After independence in 1952 Community Development Scheme for village development was introduced, following by The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee 1957. Which introduced three-tier Panchayati Raj for rural areas. Later in 1987 and 1989 different committees reviewed the local government system and finally in 1992 73rd and 745th Constitutional Amendments were passed. The 73rd was about rural local government which was called Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). And the 74th was about urban government which was called Nagarpalikas. Figure: Balwant Rai Mehta Committee 1957 3. Organizational Structure of Local Self-governance in India: Since 1993, the local governments work in two different forms; Urban Localities or Nagar Palika are empowered by individual state governments while Rural localities seek power from Panchayati Raj system. According to statistics of 2017, 267,428 local government bodies work in which 262,771 are rural and 4,657 urbans among rural local governments, 632 are Zila Parishad which work at the district level. 6,672 are Panchayat Samaiti at the block level, and 255,466 are Gram Panchayat at the village level. [1] Figure: Organizational Structure of Local Government in India (Source: Local Government in India, Council of Local Authorities for International Relations, 2007) 4. Punchayati Raj Under The 73rd Amendment of 1992 Act: Punchayati Raj: Raj means "rules" and Punchayat means "a group of five peoples elected by the villages". It is based on 73rd amendment of 1992 act. According to this all states have three tier Punchayati Raj (PR) system which are following; a) Gram Panchayat (Village Punchayat): It works at bottom level and covers a village or group of villages. b) Mandal: It is also known as Block or Taluka-Tehsil level. it is intermediary level and represent a group of gram panchayat. c) Zilla Panchayat: It works on district level. it is the top level and it covers the entire rural area of the district. Eleven subjects of constitution have been handed over to Panchayati Raj Institutions from State government. It has been implemented everywhere except Adivasi populations in many states. Electoral System: A State Election Commission which is independent form the Election Commission of India is responsible for the election of PR. All the three levels of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)are elected directly by the people for five years. One third of seats are reserved for women where as specials seats for minorities and different casts have also been reserved. ·The state government will appoint a State Finance Commission once in five years to improve the finances to the panchayats. Responsibilities of Establishments: a) Establishment of State Election Commissions to conduct elections to the PRIs. b) Developmental plans for districts will be provided by Establishment of District Planning Committees. c) Establishment of Grama Sabha will provide recommendation of social justice and empowerment at village level. Aims and Objectives Local Bodies Under The 73rd Amendment of 1992 Act: a) b) c) d) e) f) g) Decentralization of powers Strengthen democracy at gross roots level Villages’ Reconstruction and development Empowerment of women Empowerment of Lower Class on grass root level Strengthening democracy at Village level To Prepare Leadership on State and country level 5. Nagarpalika (Municipality): Features of 74th Amendment of the India Constitution: The 74th Amendment was passed in 1992. Structure and Hierarchy of Urban Local government has been defined in this amendment to empower the public at lower level. The Act defines three kinds of municipalities in every state which are following; a) Nagar panchayats for areas in transition from a rural area to an urban area. b) Municipal councils for smaller urban areas. c) Municipal corporation for larger urban areas. According to Census of India, an area will be considered as Urban area if it has population of 5,000 or more. It was also stated that density of population would be at least 400 person per square Km. according to the census 31% of India’s population live in Urban areas. The 74th amendment states that the Metropolitan planning committee will be responsible the making the draft of development and Planning for the area or sector. Two third of this committee will be elected members, including the Chairperson of the Panchayats of that area. 16.2% seats are reserve for Scheduled Casts and 8.2 for Scheduled Tribes. 6. Functions / Responsibilities of Local Self-Government: Functions of Municipal Corporation (Urban Local Government): The municipal government is responsible to carry out all the activities related to the Urban local government. The main responsivities are following; Obligatory functions of Municipal Corporation: 1) Supply of Clean water 2) Construction of local streets and roads 3) Street light and plantation 4) Cleaning of streets and road 5) To Maintain the sewerage system 6) Stopping of Illegal and offensive act 7) Maintenance of Public Hospitals 8) Establishment and Maintenance of government School 9) Registration of Birth and death 10) Naming and numbering of streets and Houses Discretionary functions(optional) of Municipal Corporation: 1) Laying out of areas and grounds 2) Securing and demolishing of dangerous Building 3) To carried out the Construction and maintenance of rest housed, Libraries, Parks and shelter homes 4) Maintenance of Public Buildings 5) Planting trees and reconstruction of roads and their maintenance 6) To provide Housing facilities for Lower class 7) To support poor families 8) To conduct surveys 9) to organize sports and cultural functions for the public 10) To provide transport facilities 11) Promotion of workers work in welfare and municipal organization. Some of the functions of the urban bodies overlap with the work of state agencies. The functions of the municipality, including those listed in the Twelfth Schedule are left to the discretion of the state government. Functions of Rural Local-Govt (or Panchayat Raj Institutions): Gram Panchayats (Village level) 1) 2) 3) 4) Provision of welfare and civic amenities. Looking after sanitation, water supply, street lights and roads. Primary Education. Setup primary health centers. Mandal Or Taluka Panchayats (Tehsil level) 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Coordination of the working of various Gram Panchayats under it. Looking after sanitation, water supply, street lights and roads Management of Primary and Secondary Education Setup of Hospitals and Dispensaries Acts as a link between Gram Panchayat and Zila Parishad Zilla Panchayat (District level) 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Coordination of the working of various Panchayat Samitis under Zilla Panchayat. Looking after sanitation, water supply, street lights and roads at District Level. Management of Primary Education, Secondary Education and above. Setup of Hospitals and Dispensaries at District Level. Acts as a link between Local bodies and the State Government. References; 1) The Government and Political System in India (StudyCountry.com) 2) The Local Government System in India" (PDF). Commonwealth Local Government Forum. 3) The Constitution (Seventy-fourth Amendment) Act, 1992 4) The Constitution (Seventy-third Amendment) Act, 1992 5) Local Government in India, Council of Local Authorities for International Relations, 2007.
